Onion slicing machine

ABSTRACT

Onions to be sliced are placed in pockets formed in a rotary table made up of a plurality of coaxial horizontal discs that are mounted on top of one another to rotate about a common axis. Around the table are disposed a plurality of rotary knives, which are positioned in interleaved relation with the onion holding discs but which are disposed at progressively different vertical positions so that successive knives are interleaved with progressively different pairs of onion transporting discs. As the transport discs revolve, therefore, the knives cut the onions in the pockets into slices.

United States Patent [191 Boyer ONION SLICING MACHINE [76] Inventor:Emanuel F. Boyer, 4826 Oak ()rchard Rd, Albion, NY. 14411 [22] Filed:Mar. 19, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 126,137

[52] US. Cl ..83/4, 83/404.4, 83/41 1 R [51] Int. Cl ..A23n 15/100, B26d4/04 [58] Field of Search ..146/78 R, 98, 105, 42, 165, 146/167, 6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,638,949 5/1953 Blevins,Sr. et al. ..146/78 R X 464,674 12/1891 Church 146/165 2,262,882 11/1941Bucklin ....146/167 X 1,992,688

2/1935 Bonvallet 146/165 Mar. 27, 1973 2,755,835 7/1956 Puccinelli146/105 X Primary Examiner-Willie G. Abercrombie Attorney-Shlesinger,Fitzsirnmons & Shlesinger [5 7] ABSTRACT Onions to be sliced are placedin pockets formed in a rotary table made up of a plurality of coaxialhorizontal discs that are mounted on top of one another to rotate abouta common axis. Around the table are disposed a plurality of rotaryknives, which are positioned in interleaved relation with the onionholding discs but which are disposed at progressively different verticalpositions so that successive knives are interleaved with progressivelydifferent pairs of onion transporting discs. As the transport discsvrevolve, therefore, the knives cut the onions in the pockets intoslices.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing PATENTEBMARNIQB I INVENTOR. EMANUEL F. BOYERATTORNEYS ONION SLICING MACHINE The present invention relates tomachines for slicing vegetables, fruits, and the like, and moreparticularly to machines for slicing onions that are to be canned,frozen, fried, or otherwise preserved or processed.

The machines heretofore provided for these purposes, and particularlythose for slicing onions, are wasteful of the product. The cuttingblades have to be of substantial thickness, and therefore must gouge outof the onions portions of substantial thickness as they pass through theonions. The several portions, that are gouged-out in toto in cutting theseveral slices in the onions amount to a rather considerable portion ofthe total thickness of the onion, sometimes as much as a quarter; andthis is all waste. Moreover the known machines can cut only thickslices.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a machine which willbe simple in construction and which can cut an onion into the requirednumber of slices in one operation and in one set-up, and without waste.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this naturewhich is relatively compact, and which employs readily replaceable andinexpensive cutting tools.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from thespecification and claims, particularly when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an onion slicing machine built according to oneembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows and FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating how an onion is sliced by the machine of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, denotes the baseplate of the machine which is supported on a plurality of legs 11, onlyone of which is shown. 1

Mounted on the base is a table 12 comprising a plurality of coaxialdiscs 14 which are keyed to a shaft 15 to rotate therewith. Shaft 15 isjoumaled at its lower end in base 10. Each disc is recessed on its lowerface as denoted at 16; and each disc is provided with a plurality ofequi-angularly spaced apertures 17 therethrough. The apertures in onedisc register with the apertures in all the other discs to formtherewith a plurality of pockets 18 equi-angularly spaced about the axisof shaft 15 and table 12.

The table is driven by a gear-motor unit of conventional form, indicatedgenerally at 20, through gearing 21, 22, 23, the last-named beingcoupled to shaft 15. Nuts 24 and a flexible washer 25 hold the discs 14on the shaft 15.

Welded or otherwise secured to base 10 to project thereabove are aplurality of angularly spaced uprights to each of which is welded, orotherwise secured, a pair of parallel, horizontally-projecting arms 31,32. In each pair of arms there is joumaled a shaft 34, to the bottom ofwhich there is fastened a rotary knife 35.

The shafts 34 are mounted parallel to shaft 15 and spaced equi-angularlythereabout so that the knives 35 are interleaved with the differentdiscs 14 to enter the recesses 16 thereof and to pass through thepockets 18 as the discs 14 revolve with shaft 15. The shafts 34 may bemade of progressively different lengths so that knives 35 are disposedat progressively different heights to enter the recesses 16 betweensuccessively different pairs of discs 14, and thereby cut progressivelydifferent slices S in the onions placed in the pockets 18, as the table12 rotates; or the knives can be disposed at progressively differentheights on their respective shafts 34. In any event, successive knivescut difierent slices from the onion 0.

The knives 35, which are preferably stainless steel discs, and whichtherefore will have indefinite lives, can all be driven from a commonmotor 40 through a pulley 41, an endless belt 42, and pulleys 44, one ofwhich is secured to each shaft 34; or each shaft 34 may be driven by aseparate motor 40 through an individual set of belts and pulleys, or inany other suitable manner.

Motor 40 may be supported from a plate or bracket 45 through a box 46.Plate 45 may be supported at opposite ends on posts 30 of the machine.

A jet spray may be disposed at a suitable point around table 1 to spraywater on. the discs 14 to wash away the onion juices and prevent thesejuices from gumming up the machine.

An important feature of the machine is the recessing of the discs 14which permit the discs to clear the several knives during cutting, sothat the knives slice the onions without waste.

In use, an operator may stand at the front of the machine; and as eachpocket 18 passes him, may place an onion therein so that the onion willbe carried by table 12 past successive knives 35 which extend far enoughinto the spaces between adjacent discs to cut successive slices in theonions as the onions are carried by the table past the successiveknives. Numerals l7 and 17" denote the positions of the pockets at whichthe operator of the machine may put the onions to be cut into thepockets. A hole is provided in base 10; and when a sliced onionregisters with this hole, it will drop through this hole into chute 56,to be carried away for processing.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with a specificembodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification, and that this application is intended to cover anymodifications, or uses of the invention which come within the scope ofthe present disclosure or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A slicing machine comprising a rotary table having plurality ofpockets arranged about the axis of rotation of said table for holding aplurality of products to be sliced, said table comprising a plurality ofcoaxial discs disposed one above another axially of said table,

each disc having an annular recess extending radially inwardly from itsperiphery and having therethrough a plurality of holes arranged inequiangularly spaced relation about said axis and registering with saidrecesses,

each hole being disposed inwardly of the periphery of its disc and theholes in one disc registering with holes in all the other discs toprovide said plurality of pockets,

means for rotating said table, and

means for rotating said knives.

2. A slicing machine as claimed in claim 1, having a discharge openingwith which said pockets register successively in the rotation of saidtable.

1. A slicing machine comprising a rotary table having plurality ofpockets arranged about the axis of rotation of said table for holding aplurality of products to be sliced, said table comprising a plurality ofcoaxial discs disposed one above another axially of said table, eachdisc having an annular recess extending radially inwardly from itsperiphery and having therethrough a plurality of holes arranged inequi-angularly spaced relation about said axis and registering with saidrecesses, each hole being disposed inwardly of the periphery of its discand the holes in one disc registering with holes in all the other discsto provide said plurality of pockets, a plurality of rotary disc knivesmounted in angularly spaced relation about the axis of said table torotate on axes parallel to said table axis, and disposed so thatdifferent knives extend into the recesses between successive discs,thereby to cut progressively different slices from said onions, meansfor rotating said table, and means for rotating said knives.
 2. Aslicing machine as claimed in claim 1, having a discharge opening withwhich saiD pockets register successively in the rotation of said table.